Urban Vagabond: Reload

After the training camp was decided.

Since I didn’t have any injuries that needed treatment, I got to the lodging first and called home.

“[You’re suddenly staying for a training camp? Without even bringing clothes to change into?]”

“The Transcendent Extremity Gate said they’d prepare everything for me. They also said I can go home whenever I want, but it feels like there’s a lot I could learn here...”

I thought back to the moment the hundreds of trajectories carved out by the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader’s sword and saber had swept over the party hall.

That was a wide-area ultimate attack that could only be unleashed if she could clearly perceive a space holding well over a hundred martial artists as her own domain.

I couldn’t even begin to guess how much precision in energy perception and how much control over internal energy output something like that required.

I had come through that attack without so much as a hair harmed, but that was only because I’d exploited the gap created by the fact that it hadn’t been intended for actual slaughter in the first place. I hadn’t overcome it through skill.

What if she’d really been trying to kill us?

I kept replaying it in my head, but no method of stopping it came to me.

Until this training camp ended, I intended to find a way to break that attack.

“I’m only planning to stay a few days. I’ll be careful, so you don’t need to worry—”

“[That’s great. Muhyuk, when you were in school, you always said retreats and class trips were a waste of time and never went.]”

“...What?”

Far from worrying, Park Jiyeon sounded bright.

“[Do you know how much your mom and dad regretted not forcing you to go back then? Those are all memories.]”

“[Get along with everyone and don’t keep to yourself. People meeting you for the first time misunderstand you when you just stand there with that blank expression, so always smile when you talk to them. Got it?]”

It sounded like she thought a training camp run by one of the Eight Great Sects was something like a high school retreat.

In reality, most of the young rising stars were in the infirmary getting their injuries treated, but...

I didn’t bother telling her that.

Either way, I was unhurt, and my parents seemed pleased.

“Don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble, and I’ll make lots of memories.”

When I called Choi Geon, he gave his disciple a great many words of advice.

“[A training camp, hm... If there are any sprouts that look promising, win them over early and make them part of your personal network. It’ll help you later.]”

“What if the sprouts that are rotten at the root start clinging to me instead?”

“[Heh heh. Don’t keep them at arm’s length. Keep them even closer. If you get the chance, get them drunk and learn their weaknesses. Better safe than sorry in all things, is it not?]”

“As expected of you, Master...”

Deeply impressed, I engraved my master’s golden words in my heart.

If the Heavenly Demon Cult rose to power later, there was no telling who might turn traitor, so getting to know the promising young rising stars in advance wasn’t a bad idea.

If they’re talented enough to catch the eye of the current Strongest in Korea, then the talent is real. No matter what they become later, they’ll become something.

After ending the call, I changed into the comfortable clothes the Transcendent Extremity Gate had provided and started wandering around the lodging by myself.

The Transcendent Extremity Gate had given the young rising stars an entire annex building. It had more than ten rooms, a laundry room, a kitchen where we could cook our own food, and a large living room spacious enough for dozens of people to gather in one place.

As expected of one of the Eight Great Sects, the building’s basement also held training facilities and other conveniences.

“This really does kind of feel like some kind of school trip...”

Right then, Shin Kangheon, who had gone to the infirmary, came charging noisily into the lodging.

“Shin Kangheon the Undying enters the training camp quarters—!”

I looked at him with an unamused expression. He’d had his wounds treated and changed into the training clothes the Transcendent Extremity Gate had given him.

“You got carried off covered in blood. Why are you back so fast?”

“You’re exaggerating. It was just a few scratches, so I slapped on some wound ointment and came right out, okay?”

That was a little hard to believe when he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, but he was so absurdly sturdy that I let it pass.

With a face full of fighting spirit, Shin Kangheon looked around the inside of the lodging.

“I’m a man who’s survived the Martial Alliance’s hellish training camps. A tiny camp like this with barely fifteen people is nothing.”

“...The Martial Alliance isn’t telling you to report to work tomorrow?”

Already looking exhausted at the thought of staying in the same lodging as that loud bastard for a while, I asked the question flatly.

But Shin Kangheon dropped onto the sofa like there was no problem at all and said,

“The commander told me to hold out here as long as possible until the Transcendent Extremity Gate kicks me out.”

“You’re getting paid without even showing up to work. The Martial Alliance’s benefits are outrageously good.”

“Heh heh. What, are you scared that if we do this training camp together, everyone will find out your talent can’t compare to mine? As you know, I’m a pinnacle expert now too.”

“Do you become a pinnacle expert just by insisting you are, when you don’t even have the license?”

“Goddammit! Let’s go right now, you bastard!”

While the two of us bickered, the other young rising stars began to gather in the living room one by one.

All of them had changed into the black training clothes the Transcendent Extremity Gate had provided.

“I could hear you two outside. You’re not kids, so why are you this excited over a training camp?”

Oh Jungmin came in, shaking his head.

“Ahem. I’m the type who absolutely wears socks indoors.”

Song Junho, who had arrived wearing unnaturally thick socks, explained the reason no one had asked for, then hurried over and dropped onto the sofa directly opposite me and Shin Kangheon.

“Hello.”

“Good evening...”

“Senior Bu Yeonha! Over here!”

Those meeting for the first time exchanged awkward greetings, while the familiar faces naturally clustered together in small groups and talked.

Then, just as the last stragglers were settling in, the front door flew open and a man staggered inside.

“Whew... Am I the last one?”

Everyone stared at him in surprise. It was Kang Hyuntae of the Great Saber Gate, the one the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader had turned into a complete wreck before the test had even started.

“How did you get here, Senior?”

At Bu Yeonha’s question—asked because they were close through being from the same Eight Great Sects—Kang Hyuntae gave an embarrassed smile and answered,

“As soon as I woke up, I went to find the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader and apologized my heart out. Then I asked if there was any chance I could still take the test...”

He lifted the hem of his training clothes and showed us the bandages wrapped around his chest.

“As you can see, I got beaten half to death. Ha, I seriously thought I was going to die on the spot, but at the very end she told me I’d passed and to show up tomorrow.”

Everyone was impressed by the fact that he had gone to apologize to the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader after she had crushed him in front of the young rising stars, and had even taken an additional test.

“She really is the Strongest in Korea for a reason. And judging by how easily she forgave me, her personality must be generous too.”

Not really...

Brief as my conversation with the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader had been, I had more than enough to predict that Kang Hyuntae’s life at this training camp would not be smooth.

Right then, Kang Hyuntae smiled affably and spoke to me.

“I heard on the way over that you didn’t move an inch when you saw that attack. The sword and saber looked like they were about to touch your neck. Weren’t you scared?”

Remembering my parents’ advice to always smile when talking to people I’d just met, I pulled up the corners of my mouth slightly.

“Not really. No matter how unsound the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader is, there’s no reason she’d chop up and kill all the young rising stars right there, is there?”

It had been a joke I was fairly proud of, but in an instant the atmosphere in the living room went cold, and several people avoided my eyes.

“Hahahahahaha—!”

Kang Hyuntae burst into exaggeratedly loud laughter, glanced around, and hurriedly changed the subject.

“S-so, we’ll be staying together for the next few days. How about we all introduce ourselves properly? I think it’d be good if we started with me and went clockwise.”

As I tilted my head, wondering what exactly I’d done wrong, Shin Kangheon jabbed me in the side and muttered under his breath.

‘Tone it down a little, you bastard.’

‘What?’

‘Stop advertising that you’re insane!’

I quietly folded my arms and thought.

Was my joke really that unfunny?

While I sat there brooding over it alone, the young rising stars began introducing themselves.

One by one, they stated their sect, their name, and the personal goal they wanted to achieve during the training camp.

“I’m Kang Hyuntae of the Great Saber Gate. I showed an embarrassing side of myself in front of my juniors, but it’ll be different from here on out, so look forward to it. Hahaha!”

“I’m Song Junho from the Supreme Pole Sword Gate. During this training camp, I’m going to earn recognition from the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader as the best young-rising-star swordsman. I look forward to working with you all!”

“I’m Bu Yeonha of the AZURE SKY SWORD GATE. Sorry to the junior who just spoke, but I plan to prove that when it comes to the sword, our main sect is the best.”

“...Yang Hayun of the Sun and Moon Gate. I want to grow stronger. Strong enough to keep my promises with confidence.”

“I’m Oh Jungmin of the Songwol Gate. I think I’m fortunate to be able to build ties with such outstanding young rising stars. I hope everyone makes it through this training camp safely and without serious injury.”

“I’m Pi Seunghwa of the Golden Glory Gate. I look forward to working with you.”

A few people I already knew went by, and then the others began their introductions as well.

“Hello. I’m Chae Eunsu of the Jingwan Spear Gate. I’ll do my best.”

He was a man who looked somewhat intimidated. Apparently he was the young rising star of the mid-sized Jingwan Spear Gate.

“I’m Hwang Mingu!”

“I’m Hwang Insu!”

A pair of identical twin brothers introduced themselves at the same time.

They were large-built saber wielders from a well-established mid-sized sect, with fierce faces to match. Shin Kangheon had already hit it off with them and was chatting away about one thing or another.

“I’m Jeon Seungyeon. I plan to see and learn as much as I can during this training camp. My goal is to earn praise for my martial arts from the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader.”

The young rising star sitting beside Yang Hayun, a woman with wavy hair, brought her solid-looking fist up in salute.

She looked to be around 180 centimeters tall, and she was apparently a fist artist from one of the Eight Great Sects, the Heaven-Splitting Gate.

After that, a few more young rising stars introduced themselves.

“Then lastly...”

Since I was seated to Kang Hyuntae’s right, I naturally ended up going last.

A mix of curiosity and unease turned toward me.

The young rising stars meeting me for the first time in particular were looking at me as though I were some rare spirit creature.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”

I rose from my seat and offered a polite fist-and-palm salute.

Trying to make up for my earlier mistake, I began speaking with a serious expression.

“I don’t belong to any sect, and I learned the sword mostly on my own. Right now, I’m receiving instruction from a master I met through something like a miraculous encounter.”

I looked at each of the young rising stars one by one.

I may as well try to get along with them.

They were all young rising stars of the orthodox martial world, carrying admirable ambitions.

One of them might become a traitor who would side with the Heavenly Demon Cult in the future, but for now, they were comrades walking the martial path with me.

I sincerely hoped that everyone here would grow stronger while staying on the correct path. That way, it would be even more exciting for me too.

“My goal is to surpass the Strongest in Korea and become the Strongest in the World. I intend to defeat Richard Han in the finals of the World’s Strongest Sparring Tournament.”

“You really are...”

“That sounds like you, all right.”

Bu Yeonha and Oh Jungmin shook their heads with helpless smiles.

Shin Kangheon and Song Junho twitched their brows as if refusing to lose, while Yang Hayun’s eyes shone for an entirely different reason.

And then Kang Hyuntae clapped and said,

“That’s cool. But that sounds like a goal that’s too far away... Don’t you have one you want to achieve during this training camp?”

I thought it over for a moment before answering.

“Before this training camp ends, I want to land a real strike on the Strongest in Korea. Let’s go with that.”

Not just Kang Hyuntae, who had asked the question, but all the young rising stars gaped at me.

Several of them even looked around nervously, as if worried the Transcendent Extremity Gate’s sect leader might somehow be listening.

“So one of the requirements for becoming a supreme master really is letting go of your sanity...”

At someone’s mutter, everyone found themselves nodding before they even realized it.

But in the end, my words became the spark that lit the young rising stars’ motivation on fire as well.

“That goal’s awesome.”

“I’m going to try it too!”

“If you pull it off, that’s drinking-story material for life...”

The next day.

Sunwoo Jeha tilted her head when she saw the eyes of the young rising stars gathered at the training ground gleaming like fanatics’.

“Did somebody feed these kids drugs?”